It was too much to ponder, so Bianca lifted her hand. A server approached her right away.
He bowed his head. “Yes, madam?”
“A glass of red wine, please?”
“Sure. Here you go.” The server gave a glass of red wine to Bianca.
“Thank you.”
“Champagne, please?” Isabella asked.
After giving Isabella what she wanted, the server left to serve the other guests. More and more guests arrived at the party and the staff were busy serving them.
Bianca sipped the wine and let out a long sigh. “What a mess!”
“What?” Isabella raised her eyebrow.
“About your
After their chat, Gabriel and Bianca returned to the party. He found Isabella hugging Rosalind.So he approached both women. “I saw something interesting.” He grinned at both of them.“What?” Rosalind asked. “It’s a beautiful sight to see my pretty niece hugging my stunning lover.”Isabella laughed and pinched Gabriel’s arm. “Uncle, what do you want? It’s rare to hear you praise me.”Three of them laughed together. But then, Isabella’s face was serious again. “I apologized to Rosalind for what I said. She forgave me.” She glanced at Rosalind and smiled. “Thank you, Rosalind. I approve of you with Uncle Gabe.” She took Rosalind’s and then Gabriel’s hands and joined both hands together. “Be good to her, okay?”“For sure.” Gabriel beamed to see how her niece approved of his relationship with Rosalind.Rosalind stared at Gabriel. She said nothing, but her eyes lit and showed how much she was relieved about how the event turned out. Later, Bianca approached them. “Mom, I already apologiz
Some guests clapped their hands. A few whistled and congratulated the happy couple. Some even shouted, “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”Gabriel laughed and cupped Rosalind’s face with both hands. Then he bent his head forward and caught her lips in a lingering kiss. She closed her eyes and kissed him back, as if nothing else mattered and they were alone. Later, she wrapped her hands around his neck and caressed his neck and hair.The whistles were louder. Some cleared their throats and coughed to tease the couple until Rosalind blushed and pushed Gabriel’s chest a little. He laughed aloud and kissed her lips once more before he finally grinned and stood beside her, obviously too pleased with himself.As he predicted, some men stared at Rosalind with curious eyes while some women observed her body. Saying nothing, som
After dancing with Rosalind, some businessmen wanted to discuss business with Gabriel. So Gabriel kissed his fiancee’s forehead and left her at a table to talk with others. Rosalind rested her feet and breathed because she was overwhelmed with everything going on.A few minutes later, a handsome little boy glanced at Rosalind and approached her. He pulled Rosalind’s dress a little to get her attention. When Rosalind noticed it, she smiled at the little guy because he was so adorable.“Hello, what’s your name?”“I’m Axel Taylor.” The boy showed his hand, asking for a handshake.Rosalind grinned to see that. She took his hand and shook it gently. “Nice to meet you, Axel.”“Same here, miss. What’s your name?”
Before Rosalind could reply, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist from behind. “Sorry, but I must steal my fiancee.”Rosalind smiled at Gabriel and touched his hand that curled possessively around her waist. “Have you finished with the business talk?”“Not yet, but I miss you already.”She giggled and leaned her head onto his chest. “Really?”“Yes.”So Rosalind nodded at Maxwell. “Thank you for the dance. I’ll see you later.”“It’s my pleasure to dance with you, and I look forward to seeing you again.”Gabriel glared at Maxwell and then gave him a chilly greeting. “Taylor.”“Da Costa,” M
Afterward, they returned downstairs again. Some guests exchanged looks with each other because they already assumed what their host and hostess did upstairs despite it wasn’t what happened. Some businessmen approached Gabriel again as they wanted to continue the business discussion.Gabriel squeezed Rosalind’s hand as he regretted he had to leave her again. “Later, darling.”Rosalind walked to a table as she was thirsty. Before she could choose a place to sit, she saw a walking stick on the floor. So she grabbed the stick and looked around. A senior walked a few steps away from her, rubbing his ankles. She wondered if the walking stick belonged to the older man.So she approached the man. “Excuse me, sir. Is this your stick?”The man nodded. “Yes.”
Leonardo shrugged and pointed at the table. “It’s an empty table. I can sit wherever I want.”“But Dad, we have already had a family table set. The servers already had your favorite meals too.” The woman lifted her hand, but then she noticed Rosalind. She creased her forehead. “Miss Miller, what are you doing here?”Rosalind didn’t know who the older woman was, but as she called Leonardo as father, she was probably his daughter or daughter-in-law. “Well, I saw a walking stick on the floor, so I grabbed it. Apparently, it’s Leo’s. So we sat and had dinner together.” Then she glanced at the woman. “I hope you don’t mind.”The older woman didn’t reply, but Leonardo grinned. “Anna, stop being such a tight-ass. Come, sit with us! You must get to know Rosalind. She is a good girl.”
Anna knew his father-in-law was right, but she was still worried if approving Gabriel and Rosalind would be the best decision. So she scanned the room to find her daughter. Talking to Bianca might not be the wisest move, but if Gabriel and Rosalind would get married, she had to start the talk now to make a smooth way for his son.After spotting Bianca, Anna approached her. Bianca was talking with a guest. Waiting until they finished, Anna held Bianca’s hand. “I need to talk to you.”“Oh, what is it about, Mom?”“About Rosalind and Gabriel. Let’s talk elsewhere.”Bianca nodded, but she lifted her hand first to ask for a drink. After a server came, she asked for red wine while Anna requested for champagne. Both women took their glasses and walked to a more secl
That’s when Jeremy, Antonio, and Isabella walked to the table. Since Gabriel always set some tables as his family’s, their family mostly sat next to each other. Leonardo was the oldest in the family, but Gabriel was the one who had been prospering the family and the first who had immigrated to the country. So Leonardo and Gabriel had their unique positions and status in the Da Costa family.Just now, Gabriel sat on the head of the table while Leonardo sat on his right. Rosalind was on Gabriel’s left side. Gabriel numerously asked his grandfather to sit on the head of the table as Leonardo was still the head of family. However, the older man refused with a reason that he preferred the right side. Anna usually sat on Gabriel’s left side, but this time, she sat next to Rosalind. Bianca sat next to Anna.Jeremy, Antonio, and Isabella sat on their seats after
Gabriel nodded at his mother. But then he bent his head, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. He wiped his eyes quickly, but Anna could see a drop of tear fall from her son’s eyes. Later, Gabriel straightened his back and smiled as if he didn’t shed his tears for the woman he loved. Doctor Gianni then walked out of the VVIP room. He smiled to see the Da Costa family. First, he shook hands with Leonardo, Anna, Bianca, then he smiled at the youngsters. “Gabriel, you can go inside to see Rosalind and the baby,” the doctor said. “Both are healthy. Congratulations to your new son!”Gabriel shook hands with Doctor Gianni. “Thank you so much, Doctor. I don’t know what I have to say.”The doctor patted Gabriel’s shoulder. “Go inside. Rosalind is waiting for you.”When Gabriel entered the room, the nurse was still wiping and cleaning their baby. So, he approached Rosalind first and kissed her sweaty forehead. “Thank you, baby. You have fought so hard. I can’t imagine what you had been th
Gabriel called his mother right away while waiting for Rosalind to deliver their baby. “Mom, please come to Good Health Hospital. Rosalind’s water has been broken!”Anna was excited but also worried because it was a week faster than the doctor’s prediction. When she delivered Gabriel and Bianca, those two times were even past the due dates. Bianca delivered Jeremy and Isabella passed the due dates too, but with Antonio, the delivery was faster by only two days.Gabriel’s mother frowned as she recalled her memory about hers and Bianca’s giving birth.“Okay, I’ll come to the hospital right away. I’ll call your grandpa and Bianca too.”“Yes, Mom. I’m nervous now. Rosalind asked me to wait outside while I wanted to accompany her.”
Rosalind kept smiling to see how happy their little family was. They had been through a lot, and now they were together in peaceful harmony and happiness. What a priceless gift! She wouldn’t trade her family for anything.“What are you thinking of, baby?” Gabriel said.“Nothing, just how happy I’m to see us together.”He squeezed her hand and nodded. “Let’s have breakfast first.”“Let’s eat!” She nodded and smiled.After eating, they went to the university with Luca as their driver. They walked to the entrance to see many students who would attend the graduation day had already gathered there.
Time went by so swiftly. It was the time for Rosalind’s graduation. To her surprise, she would have a graduation day along with all students who attended the study in the university. So, she was excited to attend the graduation event.Gabriel hired the makeup artist and hairdresser to help Rosalind on her big day. At dawn, they were already busy putting makeup on her. When the makeup artist had finished with her job, it was time for the hairdresser to arrange Rosalind’s hair in an elegant bun.“Mom, you are so pretty!” Jane said. She jumped around as she was excited to see her mother in makeup.“Oh, thank you, sweety.” Then Rosalind glanced at the makeup artist. “Can you help to put on some powder and lip gloss for my daughter?”
Gabriel kissed Rosalind’s forehead and turned her body so he could spoon her. “Baby, you won’t need to worry about,” he stopped for a while, “Richard anymore.” He decided not to tell Rosalind the truth.“What happened?”“Well, I sent him to a rehabilitation center. Then he would go to jail.”Rosalind was quiet. She blew her breath and shook her head. “Richard only brought us troubles …. I’m sorry ….”“It’s not your fault.”“But he’s my brother.” She let out a long sigh.Gabriel had no choice because without telling Rosalind the truth, his wife would keep
After some reassurances from the doctor, Gabriel brought Rosalind back to the car. He nodded and smiled at the couple whose he cut the queue. “Thank you so much for letting us go first. I truly appreciate it!”“Don’t mention it. Is your wife okay? The baby?” The pregnant woman asked.“Yes, My wife and our baby are okay. She only needs a complete rest.”The woman smiled and nodded. “Thank God! We are happy for you.”Gabriel nodded and smiled at the kind woman. “Thank you so much!”Since the doctor’s assistant then called the woman’s name, she waved her hand at Gabriel and entered the examination room with her husband.
Gabriel shook his head again. “No, you just try to get away from the consequences of what you have done, not because you are truly repentant. It’s the punishment that scares you, not the hideous effect of what you have done to Rosalind and Jane. You are a hopeless case! The jail will help you to realize what you have done.”“You will send me to jail?!” Gregory’s voice pitched higher.“Yes.”“Then, go ahead!” Gregory spat to the ground. “I’m not scared!”Gabriel smirked and looked into Gregory’s eyes. “We’ll see. Once you are inside, you’ll shout to ask them to let you die.” Then, he straightened his back. “I’m the man of my word. Since I alr
Warning: this chapter contained violence and heavy cursing. Reader discretion is advised.Again, Pietro followed what Gabriel commanded and poured the water into Richard’s head and body. The man was conscious after a while.“If you don’t want to die, there’s no better time than now to confess,” Gabriel said. “Your name!” he shouted.“I-I’m … Ric—”A punch struck Richard’s cheek. “Again, one lie will get a punch. Keep lying to me and don’t blame me if you will die with no teeth and blood left.”“I’m truly Richard—”Gabriel hit Richard again. “Go on! I
Warning: this chapter contained violence and heavy cursing. Reader discretion is advised.Pietro stared at Gabriel who stood and stared at Richard with a menacing look. As he had been working with Gabriel for twenty years, he knew his boss would do harsh things to Richard. Yet, what Richard did was too much. So he could understand Gabriel’s mood. So Pietro cleared his throat. “Boss, what will you do?”Gabriel only grinned to hear that and removed his tie and opened his button shirt one by one. He even took his time to fold the shirt and tie neatly, then put them on a table. Later, he took his phone from his trouser pocket, pressed some buttons, and put the phone on the table next to his shirt and tie. Pietro gulped again. It reminded him when Gabriel was in his late twenties or early thirties. It was the time when he dealt with someone who betrayed him. “Boss, remember Mrs. Rosalind and little Jane? You don’t want to—”But Gabriel stopped Pietro’s words. “Remove his shirt.”It was a